Stift Rein

About the museum

Margrave Leopold the Strong of the Traungau family founded the monastery in 1129 as a family monastery and spiritual center of his mark; the first monks came from the Franconian monastery of Ebrach. Rein is today regarded as the oldest continuously existing Cistercian monastery in the world. The founder is buried here; his grave was rediscovered in 2006. In 1276, Styrian and Carinthian nobility took the "Rein Oath" in favor of Rudolf of Habsburg.

In the late Middle Ages, the monastery experienced a flourishing period; later it was affected by Turkish invasions, plague, and the Reformation before experiencing a new upswing in the 17th century. From 1720 onward, under Abbot Placidus Mally, Baroque transformation began; the current monastery church was completed by Graz court architect Johann Georg Stengg in 1747. It was elevated to basilica status in 1979. Rein survived the Josephine reforms but had to assume additional parishes. From 1959 to 1990, the expelled convent of Hohenfurth also lived here.

Besides pastoral care and the gymnasium on the monastery grounds, the small monastic community opens the cloister to visitors: volunteer cloister guides show the basilica, cloister rooms, and library under the motto "Rein schauen." The Stein.Zeit.Museum is devoted to Neolithic flint mining on nearby Hochfeld, Styria's oldest known mining; it was designed in collaboration with Universalmuseum Joanneum and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Since 2024, the monastery garden has been revived as a "wild Baroque garden."

Highlights

• Oldest continuously existing Cistercian monastery in the world (founded 1129)
• Late Baroque basilica, the second-largest church in Styria
• Grave of founder Margrave Leopold I., the first Styrian territorial ruler
• Stein.Zeit.Museum on over 6,000-year-old flint mining at Rein
• Monastery garden as Austria's first "wild Baroque garden"

Permanent exhibition

• Stein.Zeit.Museum Stift Rein – The exhibition presents finds from Neolithic flint mining on Hochfeld near Rein and explains how people over 6,000 years ago extracted raw material for tools.

Founded

1129

Operated by

Zisterzienserstift Rein

Director

Abt Philipp Helm

Admission & discounts

Prices apply to the "Rein schauen" cloister tour. Stein.Zeit.Museum is free to enter. GenussCard and Styria Card are accepted, except for special tours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The facilities are generally wheelchair accessible; people with mobility impairments are asked to register in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The annual program also includes a special tour for children; group tours for children at Stein.Zeit.Museum cost EUR 2. Barefoot path behind the school sports field.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A9: from the north exit Peggau-Deutschfeistritz (8 km), from the south exit Gratkorn-Nord (4 km).

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Stiftstaverne a few steps before the monastery (Thu–Sat 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun and holidays 9 a.m.–6 p.m.). Cloister shop in the entrance portal with books, devotional items, and regional specialties; also tickets for tours.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Available for rent are Reception Hall, Stone Hall, White Hall (126 m², for seminars and conferences), Chinese Room, Summer Refectory (also with garden), and Gothic Cellarium; weddings and select concerts in the basilica. Inquiries at saele@stift-rein.at.

Plan your visit